Ruth Wright

Committee

Agenda and draft minutes

The Schools Forum noted all of the reports that were presented to it. The Forum received updates on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) position, the Nursery Inclusion Project for All (NIPA), investment in therapies for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and the arrangements for school insurance.

Children's Committee

Agenda and decisions

The Children's Committee noted reports from the Youth Council and on services for families affected by Domestic Abuse. The committee also noted a report on the Dedicated Schools Grant and approved the continuation of a project to build a new school and community facility in Nine Elms Battersea, while abstaining on a decision to approve additional funding for the project. Finally, the committee noted the Quarter 1 2024/25 budget monitoring report.

Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education

Agenda and draft minutes

The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) discussed a number of reports about the state of Religious Education (RE) in Wandsworth schools and the wider UK. The meeting concluded with a decision to write to the Department for Education (DfE) to express concerns about the quality of RE in the borough’s schools. The attendees also discussed plans for Wandsworth’s year as London Borough of Culture in 2025.

Planning Applications Committee

Agenda and draft minutes

The committee approved two applications and rejected one. They approved plans to build a three-storey block of 5 flats on the site of some garages on Gideon Road, as well as plans to replace a garage with a side extension on Wimbledon Park Road. They rejected plans to demolish the Bright Horizons Battersea Day Nursery on Latchmere Road and replace it with a new nursery and a block of 9 flats.

Committee

Agenda and decisions

Wandsworth Schools Forum received a report on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget, which is forecast to be overspent, and discussed the findings of a review into services for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The Forum noted the DSG Forecast and agreed to discuss it again at their next meeting in the autumn.